Architectural Designer III - PreK-12

Position Summary

HED is seeking a passionate Architectural Designer III to join our growing PreK–12 Education practice in our San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, or Los Angeles offices. This mid‑level technical architecture role is responsible for assisting PreK-12 project teams from early design through construction under the supervision of a seasoned Architect and/or Project Designer. Candidates should be motivated, eager to develop technical and design skills in a collaborative environment, and have proven experience and proficiency in technical detailing with the ability to work with moderate to minimal supervision.

Responsibilities may include guiding and mentoring more junior team members. The ideal candidate will bring experience delivering California PreK‑12 educational facilities and a strong understanding of Division of the State Architect (DSA) requirements.

At HED, we believe great design has the power to improve lives through positive impact. Our PreK‑12 practice creates inspiring learning environments that support educational excellence, community engagement, and student success. As an integrated design firm, we bring together architects, engineers, planners, and designers to solve complex challenges through collaboration, innovation, and technical excellence.

• Do It as a Team – We believe the best solutions emerge through collaboration, trust, and shared accountability across disciplines and project teams.
• Be You With Us – We value diverse perspectives, experiences, and ideas, creating an inclusive environment where individuals can bring their authentic selves to work.
• Make a Mark – We are driven to create meaningful impact through design, delivering projects that strengthen communities and improve lives.
• Embrace Change – We approach challenges with curiosity and adaptability, continuously evolving our thinking, processes, and solutions.
• Thrive With Growth – We invest in mentorship, professional development, and lifelong learning, empowering our people to reach their full potential.
• Strive for Performance – We pursue excellence in design, technical execution, client service, and project delivery, holding ourselves to the highest standards.

• Design impactful educational environments that serve students, educators, and communities.
• Collaborate across disciplines to deliver thoughtful, sustainable, and high‑performing solutions.
• Partner with school districts, educational stakeholders, consultants, and regulatory agencies to achieve successful project outcomes.
• Contribute to a culture that values mentorship, professional growth, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning.
• Work in a flexible hybrid environment that balances autonomy with meaningful in‑person collaboration.
• Be part of a team committed to design excellence, technical rigor, and creating lasting positive impact.

• We embrace a hybrid model that promotes both autonomy and collaboration, including the freedom to work from home, with regular in‑office days to connect with teammates and build culture.
• The office is a professional, open‑space environment for collaborative and independent work.

• Responsible for site and master planning development working with client and civil engineering teams as part of site entitlements and building design approvals process.
• Responsible for building system concepts and documentation processes from schematics through construction administration phases.
• Ability to engage during project pursuits to support the Project Manager and Principal in charge of the development of scope and fee.
• Function as team leader on large, complex, and integrated architecture and engineering projects.
• Client facing, comfortable working directly with sophisticated client teams that have a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Responsible for overseeing and directing project team members.
• Prepare and monitor discipline work plans.
• Prepare and document code research for a project.
• Conduct material and product research as required for project development.
• Develop/edit project specifications in RIB Spec Link.
• Sign and seal documentation prepared under the candidate's direct supervision.
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